(670 The Score) Each morning the Bears hold practice at Halas Hall, their offensive line is first on the field. The group forms lines with five across and works through hand placement on blocking pads. Then the unit moves to the grass and goes through footwork technique.
For new Bears offensive line coach Juan Castillo, technique is where it all begins.
"He just starts every day with the basic fundamentals," Bears center Cody Whitehair said of Castillo. "I think, as long as we keep that up -- no matter if it’s Week 1 or Week 17, just keep working those fundamentals -- that’s going to help us later down the road."
At the end of the Bears' frustrating 2019 season, coach Matt Nagy fired four members of his offensive coaching staff, including offensive line coach Harry Hiestand. One day later, Nagy hired Castillo to replace Hiestand.
The Bears averaged 3.7 yards per rushing attempt (30th in the NFL) and 4.7 yards per play (31st) in 2019. Nagy frequently defended then-rookie running back David Montgomery amid the offense's struggles. Then just two days after the Bears' season finale, the firing of Hiestand revealed where Nagy's true frustration rested. He believed the offensive line was to blame -- and the Bears couldn't fire five linemen.
Castillo brings 24 years of coaching experience and has worked on both sides of the football, including a two-year stint as the Eagles' defensive coordinator. But his bread and butter is coaching offensive linemen.
The Bears' projected starting five offensive linemen have 24 combined seasons of experience under their belt, but the group had a steep regression last season. It's why Castillo is emphasizing the fundamentals for a veteran group, hoping that they become more natural.
"We do it over and over so that it becomes natural for your body so you don't have to think about it," Castillo said. "So you can focus on defeating your opponent. I'm focusing on the footwork, the finishing, where we put our eyes at, all of the little detail and fundamental stuff."
In 2019, Castillo didn't coach for the first time since 1982, when he began a career at his alma mater, Texas A&M-Kingsville. Castillo had taken on the role as run game coordinator in recent years, including at his last stop in Buffalo from 2017-'18. While the Bears haven't formally named Castillo their run game coordinator, he will oversee the rushing attack alongside new tight ends coach Clancy Barone.
The focus for Castillo will be improving the play of the Bears' veteran offensive line. That starts with the fundamentals.
"Juan’s a competitive human being," Nagy said. "He’s very passionate about what he does.
"He’s a fiery guy, and we’re very lucky to have him."
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.